NHL roundup: Max Pacioretty gives Canadiens a boost

Share via e-mail

David Desharnais (left) celebrates his goal with Max Pacioretty (67) and Andrei Markov during the Canadiens’ win.

Associated press
February 04, 2013

It took Max Pacioretty one shift to show he has completely recovered from an appendectomy.

Only eight days after undergoing the emergency procedure, the left wing found the puck in the slot and slid it to the net for David Desharnais to tip in for a goal that helped the Canadiens to a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday in Montreal.

Pacioretty, who was expected to be out for three to four weeks, looked as strong as ever as he skated a regular shift on the top line with Desharnais and Erik Cole, picking up his fifth point in four games he’s played this season.

‘‘I just trusted that those two battling would make the right play and it ended up right on my stick,’’ he said of the goal that tied the game, 1-1, at only 2:13 of the period after Jakob Silfverberg opened the scoring for Ottawa.

Cole had the winner later in the first period for the Canadiens, who swept home games on consecutive afternoons after a 6-1 win over the Sabres on Saturday.

The Senators were coming off a 1-0 loss in Carolina on Friday night and are struggling to score with top center Jason Spezza out with a sore back.

P.K. Subban picked up a point in a second straight game since he returned after a contract dispute. He also had to leave the ice to have a skate repaired, missing the opening 10 minutes of the third period.

Kris Letang, Paul Martin, and Matt Cooke also scored, Sidney Crosby had three assists, and Tomas Vokoun made 21 saves against his former team for the Penguins, who have won three straight and four of five to lead the Atlantic Division.

Mike Green, John Carlson, and Mike Ribeiro scored for the Capitals, who have lost seven of nine games to start the season.

Peter Mueller, George Parros, and Shawn Matthias also scored for the Panthers, who snapped a seven-game road winless drought (0-5-2) dating to last season. Thomas Vanek and Cody Hodgson had a goal and assist each for Buffalo, which dropped to 1-5-1 since opening the season with two wins.

Devils 3, Islanders 0 — Johan Hedberg made 22 saves for his 22d career shutout, and Steve Bernier scored two of New Jersey’s three third-period goals in its win in Uniondale, N.Y., helping the Devils end a four-game winless streak (0-3-1).

BostonGlobe.com complimentary digital access has been provided to you, without a subscription, for free starting today and ending in 14 days. After the free trial period, your free BostonGlobe.com digital access will stop immediately unless you sign up for BostonGlobe.com digital subscription. Current print and digital subscribers are not eligible for the free trial.

Thanks & Welcome to Globe.com

You now have unlimited access for the next two weeks.

BostonGlobe.com complimentary digital access has been provided to you, without a subscription, for free starting today and ending in 14 days. After the free trial period, your free BostonGlobe.com digital access will stop immediately unless you sign up for BostonGlobe.com digital subscription. Current print and digital subscribers are not eligible for the free trial.